Here's to 2015

Since it's after midnight already it's technically New Years Eve, which means that a reflective end-of-year post is quite appropriate. Hopefully tomorrow night will be a little nicer than it is right now, the rain is pelting down and we were hoping to get some champagne and celebrate somewhere in town.

This year, quite frankly, has been one of the most straight-forward and enjoyable years of my life. It started off on a pleasant note, dinner and fireworks along the riverside in Copenhagen, a plane to Iceland late at night on the 1st, the Aurora and seeing the volcano from the plane. 

The year has more or less been incredibly straight forward. My work has gone better than I could ever have hoped for, I am making huge progress with my writing and managed to speak at a number of conferences and seminars. I have just sent off my first journal article for review and have conducted a lot of fieldwork.

The other parts of my life, too, are falling into place. Leo has moved to Dublin and is creating a home for us there, he has a good job and I hope to spend more time there. There are cheap flights from Newcastle to be had and many weekend and longer trips to enjoy in the coming weeks. Overall, everything is good.

As I look back on 2015, I can't help but feel incredibly warm and happy. Everything has fallen into place just like it should. Looking to next year, I have many goals and hopes, but generally, nothing groundbreaking. I don't want to turn my world upside down, or radically re-invent some part of myself. I just want to continue being me, being comfortable, embracing the hygge, learning more things, and being better. 

Here's to 2015, and to 2016, and to no bad days :)

This picture: many cups of tea and a stack of books, represents my life over this Christmas period

An unexpected snow day in Durham

One day, shortly before Christmas, Durham found itself covered in a blanket of snow. It came billowing down all morning and afternoon, transforming the town into a Dickensian novel. I found it heart-lightening to don warm boots and a raincoat and walk through the town taking snaps. There's nothing quite as nice as sitting in your bedroom with a cup of tea warming your hands, watching thick, powdery puffs of snow come falling down.

By evening it had been washed away by rain, as if it had never existed. 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

So, it's Stephen's night. I am in my comfiest clothes (leggings, fluffy socks and an oversized jumper, if you were wondering), and I am home alone, with a selection box, Pukka tea, a gorgeously scented Muji candle, and...myself. I know Christmas is a time for family, but I am savouring this evening, just for me to enjoy. 

The last few weeks...months, really...have been incredibly hectic. Even Christmas wasn't so much of a reprieve, although I can't complain: I haven't done any work in 3 days and I stayed indoors for about 35 hours straight, something I basically never do. That being said, I cooked Christmas dinner (with help from my brother), and tomorrow I'm travelling to England to spend the time until the New Year with Leo and his mom.

It's nice to be able to take the time to be alone (as I keep saying, if my recent posts are anything to go by), but it takes a certain inner strength and determination to be alone the evening after Christmas. To be honest, I am a little lonely (we had lunch at my aunt's and it was simply the most convenient thing to get dropped back here for heading to the airport). But I know that I've had a very hyggeligt few days, and tomorrow I will be back in Durham with fairy lights and lovely food and movies and company.

Below are a selection of Christmassy snaps: all the Christmas trees I've had the pleasure of hanging out with in particular.

I feel very lucky to live the life that I do. I think we should all try to feel lucky.

Things I learned

Going swimming on a Friday night is a great way to spend your evening because a) the pool is totally empty and b) you're getting some well-needed exercise, relaxation, and thing-time while everyone else is out socialising and drinking alcohols. 

As time goes on I'm learning to make better choices and give myself what I need. I am realising more and more that I am introverted and that I need a lot of alone time, as well as autonomy over my personal space to keep it tidy and well-aired and bright. 

Since I know what I need, it's easier to give it to myself, and follow it by a lovely health home-cooked salmon udon dish and an episode of Broen. It's good to be alone sometimes, and to acknowledge the need for this alone-ness. 

It's good to know how to help yourself.

On the absolute joy of being alone

This one's for all those girls who would rather sit at home on a Friday night and rearrange their furniture, make some soap and eat a steak than go out and drinks alcohols. Who usually like to leave parties early just to take the long walk home, listening to music and recharging. 

I don't like crowds, and despite being a fairly bubbly person who has no problem striking up conversations with strangers, I have come to really prefer my own company as time has gone on. I can't remember the last time I went to a pub with a group and didn't have a huge desire to just make my excuses (or not) and leave. 

It's been a funny few weeks; Leo moved over here to begin a Masters and decided not to continue with it, so then we had to work out the next plan. Moving to Dublin to get a job was his decision. All in all, it was a hectic two months or so. After spending a week there to-ing and fro-ing without a fixed place to sleep before we moved into the new home, we were hanging around a lot, in other peoples' spaces. Before that, I was juggling PhD, my admin role, running a student society, being involved in my Dept. and being a full-time girlfriend. 

It was exhausting.

Now that it's just me, back here in Durham on my own once again, I'm beginning to appreciate the absolute sheer joy of my own space. The silence of being in a room, in a house, on my own, with no noise, no people. Because it's nice to be with the one you love, but sometimes it's just as nice to be all on your own. Call it self-care, call it being mindful, call it what you will, but it's so important to just take the time to be alone.

Under the weather

It's been raining non stop for days. That is no exaggeration. Since I've been spending so much time traipsing around Dublin with a backpack, sitting on buses and getting rained on, it was inevitable that I would develop a cold. When Leo and I lived in London a couple of years ago, we shared a flat with an old Pakistani lady named Jamal. Among other things, she taught me a great trick: when you have a cold, a spoonful of honey with turmeric mixed into it is better than any pharmace-purchased cough medicine. 

So I took one of those, drinking lots of tea with honey, and hot water with lemon and honey. I have no doubt that I'll be cured in no time :)

Hello, Autumn!

The days are starting to get shorter, the leaves are turning, there is a delightful crispness to the air-yes, autumn is finally here! What's more, today is officially the first day of Autumn: the Equinox. In the Celtic calendar it's Lúnasa, the start of the harvest and an intake of breath before the great darkness descends. I can't get enough of this season. As one with pale skin and who is more comfortable in a good warm jumper than a tshirt, I always feel better when it's cold. I've got my new wool cardigan and polo neck ready to go!

Next week will mark the official beginning of the second year of my PhD. In some ways 'time is flying', but in general I feel incredibly happy, very busy, satisfied and sufficiently creative. I had the chance to host a workshop and documentary about resisting austerity in Copenhagen at the weekend, and that, along with fieldwork that is going swimmingly, has me feeling all sorts of good.

I'm excited for another reason too-Leo is joining me in Durham in just six days! It's five years this month since we first met, and one year since we have been separated, so it feels right that we are reunited in September, a time which for many represents the end of a cycle, but for me has always felt like the beginning of something fantastic (the start of the school year, the nature table, a new pencil case, new experiences, a new copybook).

Trip to Northern Norway

It's quite a few weeks since our trip to Norway, and it feels like a lifetime ago as I sit in my office in Durham drinking coffee from my thermos and writing about motherhood and austerity. Here is a recap from our trip to Northern Norway, mostly in pictures.

We flew Oslo-Bodø on a slightly delayed flight, which was just as well as we then arrived as the midnight sun was hovering around the horizon, and there were breathtaking views of the jagged rocks in the water and mountains on the skyline. We walked the short distance from the airport to the town centre in twilight, and had a few hours sleep before getting up to make the most of the free breakfast and endless filter coffee (Norway's filter coffee game is 10/10).

We travelled from Bodø to Sandhornøy in a ferry, and then took a bus to the beach Langsanden, where Salt is located. We camped on the beach for four nights, ate our packed lunch food, had waffles in the cafe in the morning, took a sauna and ran to the cool Atlantic to cool off (although the sauna was not very hot), lazed around on the beach, and generally had a superb time camping in a mostly-isolated place. 

We made friends with the Mayor of the local commune, who so kindly brought us to his house, gave us coffee, and BROUGHT US IN HIS LITTLE TWO SEATER AIRPLANE. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it makes sense to make friends with everyone you meet, because sometimes those people are absolutely lovely individuals who will go out of their way to share wonderful experiences with you.

We made our way back to Bodø and then on to Lofoten islands. Unfortunately we only had one night so we stayed in the most touristic area, which was a huge shame after the beautiful isolation of Langsanden. Nonetheless, we made the most of it, eating whale (which was NOT nicely prepared!), going for a long walk, and enjoying ourselves. 

It was then time to go back to the mainland for one more night in a lovely hotel, a welcome rest after all the camping (I am not, generally, a camper), and home again home again to Copenhagen. I was left with such a positive impression of Northern Norway. The people we met were so kind, welcoming, and ready to chat to us. The landscape was breathtaking, the weather incredibly pleasant, and the efficiency and ease with which we travelled around really impressed me. For sure, my heart has been stolen by this part of the world, and I can't wait to return :)

a few weeks in Denmark

I am so lucky to be able to spend a few weeks in Denmark this summer. Right now I'm back in our old apartment, and we're enjoying some exceptionally nice weather (with a thunder storm last night!), swimming in the Øresund, applying layers of sunblock, eating delicious salads, and planning for our trip to Norway at the end of the week. 

Leo's at work, so I'm up to my usually tricks; doing writing for my PhD, lots of admin (sigh), cleaning and cooking. Mondays may not be as good as the weekend when your weekend is filled with amazing coffee from the place your friend works at and all the delicious salad and bread you can handle, but it's pretty fantastic when you get to stay at home, clean at will (cleaning calms my soul) and think about preparing the most delicious dinner while listening to your new favourite song. 

3/4 of the way

I'm 3/4 of the way through the first year of my PhD. I can't believe I'm writing that because it all feels like a total dream. It's been an incredibly busy year so far, it's hard to believe that a year ago I was working in a hotel in Copenhagen, and in 12 months I've packed so much in. It's been quite challenging year for me in many ways, but I've made the most of reinventing myself when needs be, and I can safely say that I've emerged this side a better human.

Today I had the Progression Review that marks the transition from MPhil to PhD officially, and I'm happy to say that it went really well. I was very nervous, and not sure I had as much confidence in myself as I would have liked, but I made it through and they very luckily said I don't need to do any corrections. 

That basically means that, when I come back from my summer holidays, I can launch myself head first into my fieldwork, and get this PhD done! I have a few weeks in Denmark/Norway ahead, and I have a long list of things I hope to get done, but I'll be sure to enjoy myself too :) With the gorgeous cafes and delicious Black Diamond library, (yes, I do get excited by libraries) that won't be hard. 

All is good.

Lately

And the old triangle 

Went jingle jangle 

All along the banks 

Of the Royal Canal